Secret 7 ROUGHS TO FINALS
Tame Impala-‐ The less I know the better
I was only going to do 3 secret 7’s when I started, but after this one being so much fun, I decided to do them all. Aims for this one-‐ -‐Communicate the title of the song and a little of what its about -‐Create a record sleeve that could be screen printed and then later edited on photoshop slightly. -‐ Create some bright psychedelic colours by screen printing. Decided to try a marbled effect with the brightest colours. Totally new to me.
Finals
I submitted two for this one because I couldn’t decide on one. However the yellow one achieved more of what I set out to do, the colours are much brighter and the marbled effect worked much better on it as it was the first one I did. I need more practice at getting the marbled effect just right.
Max Richter-‐ Dream 3
The first ever classical piece. Was tricky, no words to communicate or try to understand. I tried to (without sounding cliché) feel the music. Aims-‐ -‐ To create a delicate, and peaceful image. -‐ To lino cut it. -‐ To create something dreamy without using digital, new age programmes. This was difficult. -‐ Put myself in it a little. This piece reminds me of home.
Final
I am really happy with this piece personally, but I don’t think it had a chance of getting chosen. The quality of the lino cut wasn’t spot on. To improve I could have done 3 separate lino’s and arranged them a little differently on the page. To sum up, I like this piece, but it could be much better.
Chvrches – Clearest blue Clearest blue was a fun one. I wanted textures and simplicity. I used an old mono print, played around with it on photoshop, and then drew up a simple character that I wanted to use. I played around with this one quite a lot in order to get the outcome I wanted. Aims-‐ -‐Texture. -‐Simplicity -‐A mix of analogue and digital processes. -‐Give myself the ability to get a little better on photoshop. -‐ For it to completely different to the previous ones. I want to start and finish something in various techniques in order to see what it is I'm good at, capable of and what I enjoy.
Final
Im pleased with the journey from roughs to final on this one. Photoshop gave me the space to play and create with the ability to step back. The textures in the background contrast the simplistic characters in the foreground, which I'm pretty happy with. Perhaps the textures are a little too overpowering though, that’s my only concern with this submission.
Etta James – At last This is the one I did least amount of preparation for, and the only one that I got in. Which is pretty funny but I was completely over the moon when I found out! Etta James too! I never do paper cuts, and in my feedback I'm always told to try drawing with shape, and advised to avoid line work. So I finally took note and did what was advised and it paid off! Aims – -‐ -‐ -‐ -‐
To create a romantic piece of work Paper cut it in order to understand shape a little more Avoid using lines as best as possible To create what came to mind when I listened to the song
Final
I got one in! I actually submitted this one wrong to start off with, I sent it off as an RGB file rather than a CMYK. Next time must remind myself over and over of all the things that need to be checked. Besides that, I couldn’t be happier with this one. Paper cut and shape are definitely ones to be explored more in my practice in the future.
The Jam-‐ Art school
Definitely had the most fun on this one. After having so much fun paper cutting the Etta James one, I decided to paper cut some more, but in the form of masks. The mask idea came from my first day at uni, where we were told to make a mask of ourselves. I tried to put my own experiences of art school into this one. Aims-‐ -‐ Use a camera. Photographing arty environments. -‐ Capture the essence of art school. -‐ Have as much fun doing it as possible, because that’s exactly what it is.
Finals
At the time I absolutely loved these, perhaps because they are so different to all of my other work. Now I wish id left them as they were a little. I submitted 2 because I had so much work for this one that it felt silly to just submit one, and I thought it might double my chances of winning. I think the authenticity of the masks was what I really loved about this one, but I over did it with photoshop and colours. However, I said I wanted to create something different for each submission, and I have achieved that.
John Lennon-‐ Imagine
Big song. One of the last ones I did because I was scared to illustrate such an iconic tune. Aims-‐ -‐ -‐ -‐ -‐
To convey love and togetherness and unity. To do this without making it complex. To get out the paints and actually paint something! Explore patterns.
Finals
I submitted two for this one too. Mainly because I liked the simplicity of the white one, but wasn’t sure it was enough. I feel so much more confident after doing this one, and I'm finding it easier to communicate things through my visual imagery lately. The paint textures are a particular favourite of mine on this one.
Jack Garratt -‐ Worry
I ended up re doing this one because I wasn’t happy with my first attempt at all. Its funny, I'm starting to realise how line work isn't one of my strengths at all. I also wish I had talked to someone before submitting this one, because I was later told that the paper cut as it was was better. I must seek out advice and crits next time, its always good to grab a second opinion. -‐Aims -‐ Communicate certain sections of the song. -‐ To be happy with the outcome, even if it means redoing it.
Final
I used elements of a few of my other submissions in this one because I wasn’t happy with any of the stuff I was creating, and time was of the essence by the time I got to this one. I'm happy with the textures and the colours, but I would have rather the whole thing was completely original. Next time I will manage my time better, and not get too stressed when it doesn't work.
Summary. Secret 7 was an eye opener for me, and it gave me the ability and opportunity to be as explorative as I wanted with my work. I tried new things and tried to be as creative as possible throughout the process, whilst pushing myself to try new things. For me, this has been a very important part of my educational practice, because its given me a little more direction and self confidence. I'm not afraid to venture out of my comfort zone anymore, and I'm aware that my comfort zone perhaps wasn’t working very well for me. I enjoyed making every single piece of work for this brief, mainly because there was so much variation. I cant believe I actually got one in. Proudest moment as an illustrator yet, and its definitely given me the push and encouragement that I needed.